Deconstructing Eddie: My Iron Maiden Songs & Albums Countdown

Forostar said:
That makes two. In 13 years or so.
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:huh:

http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=386

"Besides their vocalist replacement, which probably needs no further explanation, they obtained a very dark sound for this album."

"It’s still true trademark Maiden, but then with a different and darker touch."

"The resulting album is easily the darkest and most depressing in the Iron Maiden discography..."

"Blaze's lower range fits the dark atmosphere quite well."

"...but as said the over all feel is much darker."

"Music on "The X Factor" is a lot more darker than anything Maiden had done before or after."

"...Maiden’s tenth studio album is breeds a dark, broody atmosphere."

I'm stopping there and I'm not even done with that page yet. Similar descriptions such as morose and melancholic are thrown around a lot as well. I'm sure that lots of other reviews scattered around the internet and on various publications describe TXF in a similar manner. It's quite a shock that someone who's supposedly been a fan of the band for so long has never come across such a commonly used description for the album.
 
^ Might be the only explanation. Although I can't see what understanding of the word "bleak" would be so far removed from the meaning of "dark" and similar descriptions though... such as depressing, somber, melancholic, morose, gloomy, etc etc etc...
 
No. Vala doesn't understand what I said, or he acts like he didn't understand it.

I am not shocked by the description. I have never seen that description used as reason (argument) to like the album less than others.

Reasons always were: long intros, long songs, bad singer, bad sound, etc etc.

I never read that this album is too dark for many fans, or that Blaze's voice was too dark or bleak, like you and the other guy stated. The review doesn't say this either.
So please read more carefully and don't change my words, in your favour, Vala. The only thing I did was denying what you and he said.
These are your own opinions but don't speak for a group that doesn't exist.
 
I get it, no misunderstanding. And then I am with Foro on this one. Many have pointed it out that the album is dark, maybe depressing, but very few have stated that as their main reason for disliking the album.

The reasons typically given are that they don't like Blaze's singing (a matter of taste), that the production is not good (to which I agree), or that there are too many long intros that don't go anywhere (I understand the criticism, but I happen to like the album nevertheless)
 
Forostar said:
No. Vala doesn't understand what I said, or he acts like he didn't understand it.

I am not shocked by the description. I have never seen that description used as reason (argument) to like the album less than others.

Reasons always were: long intros, long songs, bad singer, bad sound, etc etc.

I never read that this album is too dark for many fans, or that Blaze's voice was too dark or bleak, like you and the other guy stated. The review doesn't say this either.
So please read more carefully and don't change my words, in your favour, Vala. The only thing I did was denying what you and he said.
These are your own opinions but don't speak for a group that doesn't exist.
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There was no need to highlight "bleak atmosphere" then. You just made your statement misleading. To make matters worse, I cited mckindog's statement in my reply and you didn't correct me then (and you even proceeded to include him as an example) considering that mckindog said nothing of the sort about people disliking TXF for being dark. He just said it was dark. Anyway...

"The problem with this album is the somberness that I mentioned before.  It makes everything come off as boring." (link)
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and from the same link I provided earlier:

"This overall pessimistic atmosphere provides the album with an anti - commercial touch, and that is the main reason why a lot of fans found it difficult to comprehend."

"Maybe the guys wanted to make a record that sounds dark and haunting, but it all comes across as utterly dull and whiny."
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If I could find these in limited time from such a diminutive sample of locations on the internet on top of what I pointed out, I'd imagine that out of the entire body of work that has been written about the album, there's a relatively significant amount of listeners out there that probably feels the same way. It would be narrow-minded to think that such a group doesn't exist, which is like saying it's unthinkable for someone to dislike TXF because of its bleak atmosphere. One of the reviewers I quoted above even refers to such a group.
 
Interesting distinction Foro.
I'm surprised a significant shift in feel never factored into people's rationale for disliking the album.
Did anyone ever say " I love that dark new atmosphere, but the songs are too long," or "that brooding sound is badass, but the singer sucks?"
For me, my initial introduction to TXF was like looking into a dark cellar. It took me about seven or eight years before I overcame that.
Once I crawled in and got to know the rats, I figured out it was a damn good album.
Even if it was bleak.  :innocent:
 
  Dark..Bleak..whatever.  For Maiden it just sucks.  The intros aren't just long, they don't even go with the songs.  The singer sounds like a drunken ape, and the production is sloppier than a loose meat sandwich.  It is as bad as the next garbage album.  The band was sleep walking.  These two albums are filler, and are a result of the band not even being  together.  Other than man on the edge, and perhaps the Clansman, maybe S.O.T.C,  everything  is at the bottom.
 
^ Of the entire Blaze era.

Sign of the Cross, Lord of the Flies, The Aftermath, The Edge of Darkness, Futureal, The Clansman, The Educated Fool and Comos Estais Amigos are songs any band would be proud of.
 
I won't name the songts since it would defeat the purpose of this thread, but I will say that I have 9 Blaze-era tunes in the top half of my list. 3 from VXI and 6 from TXF :bigsmile:
 
According to the average ranks:

1. Powerslave: 4.43
2. A Matter of Life and Death: 4.37
3. Piece of Mind: 4.30
4. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 4.28
5. Somewhere in Time: 4.26
5. The Number of the Beast: 4.26
7. Killers: 4.24
7. The X Factor: 4.24
9. Brave New World: 4.20
9. Iron Maiden: 4.20
11. Virtual XI: 4.08
12. Dance of Death: 3.93
13. Fear of the Dark: 3.48
14. No Prayer For the Dying: 3.44

I would consider The X Factor tying Killers and placing only 0.02 behind The Number of the Beast and finishing ahead of 2 of the 3 ranked reunion era albums to be rather telling. VXI is also ranked much higher in numerical scores than DOD, and WAY higher than the 90s Bruce albums.
 
In my opinion The X Factor is the best Maiden album.  In any case, it's the one I like the most. I don't care if it's not the best technically speaking or whatever, but it appeals to me in a way that even the best 80's albums never did.
 
Sorry, but to me playing safe is to say that the album is shit just because Bruce isn't on it and saying the best songs of both Blaze albums are the ones Bruce sang live. This is much more easy to make it looks one is a Maiden fan by saying what is of common sense.

Of course you're a great Maiden fan, bornless1, but The X Factor is one of the greatest albums of the 90's. I really pity those who couldn't grasp it 'cos it's dark, melancholic, intense and in the face. It makes you think about you inner self, indeed. The subject appeals to every single person.
 
Jeffmetal said:
Sorry, but to me playing safe is to say that the album is shit just because Bruce isn't on it and saying the best songs of both Blaze albums are the ones Bruce sang live. This is much more easy to make it looks one is a Maiden fan by saying what is of common sense.

Of course you're a great Maiden fan, bornless1, but The X Factor is one of the greatest albums of the 90's. I really pity those who couldn't grasp it 'cos it's dark, melancholic, intense and in the face. It makes you think about you inner self, indeed. The subject appeals to every single person.
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Unless you're a rather shallow person - not a thinker so to speak.  I can perfectly understand why some folks don't get the X Factor.  It only makes me love it more.
 
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